The Conservative chair of the transport select committee has warned that minimum
service levels could worsen industrial relations and “end up
making [rail] services less reliable”.
Iain Stewart, Conservative MP and chair of cross-party committee,
also slammed the government’s plans for a lack of detail.
The chair criticised the government’s “half-hearted response to
our recommendation".
Stewart urged ministers to keep a close eye on developments
cautioning that “major changes to timetabling on the rail network
haven’t always gone seamlessly in the past.”
Widespread criticism
The legislation gives ministers sweeping powers to impose strike
restrictions in any service within health, education, fire,
transport, border security and nuclear decommissioning – and has
faced widespread criticism.
NHS Providers recently warned that the
legislation could worsen industrial relations, harm patient care
and lead to more disruption.
The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) wrote to the government to
express “serious concerns” about its anti-strike legislation
breaching international law.
The EHRC also warned that the
legislation could see all striking workers in affected sectors
lose their unfair dismissal protection, as whole strikes could be
deemed illegal.
The House of Lords Delegated Powers
and Regulatory Reform Committee criticised the Act for giving
blanket powers to UK ministers while providing virtually no
detail.
The Act has also faced a barrage of criticism from civil liberties
organisations, the House of Lords Delegated Powers
and Regulatory Reform Committee, race and gender equalities groups,
employment rights lawyers,
and politicians around the world.
New regulations
The transport committee chair’s comments come as minimum service
levels in rail, the ambulance service and border security are
back in the Lords tomorrow.
Ministers have said these new rules will be rushed into force by
the end of the year.
Ministers are also consulting on rules affecting workers in
hospital settings, schools, universities and fire services.
This is despite warnings from unions and employer groups that the
plans are unworkable.
The laws will mean that when workers lawfully vote to strike,
they could be forced to attend work – and sacked if they don’t
comply.
TUC research found a massive 1 in 5 workers in Britain – or 5.5
million workers – are at risk of losing their right to strike as
a result of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act.
The TUC will hold a special Congress
to discuss the next stage of campaigning against the
Conservatives’ anti-strike laws. The event will take place at
Congress House on Saturday 9 December 2023, from 10am-1pm.
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said:
“The Conservative anti-strike laws are a recipe for chaos
and toxic industrial relations. They will do nothing to improve
public services and transport.
“It's little wonder so many MPs, employers and civil society
groups have warned about the impact of this legislation.
“These anti-strike laws are a deliberate attempt to restrict the
right to strike – a fundamental British liberty.
“Make no mistake – they are undemocratic, unworkable and likely
illegal.
“And crucially they will poison industrial relations and
exacerbate disputes rather than help resolve them.
“That’s why unions won’t stop fighting this nasty legislation
until it’s repealed.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
-Iain Stewart MP’s comments:
Transport Committee Chair said:
“My Committee felt that the Government’s plans could have
included more detail, as throughout our inquiry voices from the
sector were calling out for guidance from DfT on how to prepare
for this new way of working.
“We were disappointed by the Government’s half-hearted
response to our recommendation on how it will judge the success
or otherwise of MSLs. There is a risk of MSLs worsening
worker-employer relations and that, as a result, MSLs could end
up making services less reliable. We will watch with interest how
the Department intends to assess the success of MSLs as the
regulations come into force.
“I urge the Government to keep a close eye over how this
develops and learn lessons where necessary. After all, major
changes to timetabling on the rail network haven’t always gone
seamlessly in the past.”
